UK faces 'white barrage' snow bomb with 13 counties in England hit

Snow maps indicate that southern England is set to experience significant snowfall, with 32 counties at risk on March 9, according to the latest projections from WX Charts, which utilizes Met Desk data.

The forecasts suggest that the south of England will be hardest hit, with snowfall expected from Cornwall to Hull. Counties likely to be affected by heavy snow and rain include East Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire, as well as Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. Leicestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Cornwall, and Devon are also at risk.

In terms of rainfall, Dorset, Hampshire, and West Sussex are expected to receive precipitation, along with East Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Greater London, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire could also see rainfall, along with Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, and the Isle of Wight.

For the short term, BBC Weather’s forecast for today (February 26) predicts outbreaks of rain moving in from the west, turning wintry on northern hills before clearing to showers in the afternoon. The far north will remain drier with bright spells, while breezy conditions are expected in the south and west.

Tonight, there will be variable cloud cover with lingering coastal showers, which could turn wintry over Scottish hills. Wales will see longer spells of rain, while north-east Scotland remains drier.

Looking ahead to Thursday, the forecast suggests a more settled day with plenty of wintry sunshine and only a few patches of cloud for most areas. However, showers may persist in the far northwest and some coastal areas in the south.

For the period from Friday to Sunday, the outlook remains mostly dry and bright across the south on Friday, though patchy mist and fog may form early on. Cloud cover is expected to increase in the northwest. On Saturday, conditions are likely to turn cloudy and wet in the north, while the south remains sunny and settled. A band of rain could move into the far northwest later on Sunday, while other areas stay mostly dry and bright, though northern regions may see increasing cloud cover.